A/N: Hi everyone!!! Long time no update. I hit a major writer's block. I attempted to start another one, but let's just say that didn't work out too well. So here's the next chapter!

Chapter 23

The Trickery of Sparra

During the following days, Izzy's lessons continued with Jack. She worked with him for an hour a day and then worked by herself for a few hours. Every once in a while, a crew member would want to see what she could do and would challenge her. Somehow, she won them all. Everyone she practiced with said she fought well and that she must be constantly thinking about what her opponent was going to do next, but Izzy never thought about it. It was just so natural to her. The only person she had to think about was Jack. His movements were so obscure to her. She couldn't tell if he was drunk when he taught her, if he was doing this on purpose to teach her more, or a combination of the two. After thinking on it for many hours in the crow's nest, Izzy came to the conclusion that it was a combination of the two.

The nights Izzy and Jack spent together. He showed her all the necessities of pleasure. And though she hadn't told him, she showed him love. The more time she spent with him, the farther Izzy fell in love with Jack. She knew this was a mistake, but somehow couldn't stop it.

Izzy was practicing a few days later and felt a tap on her shoulder. She whipped around and pointed her sword point at the throat of her opponent. Her eyes focused in and the person she saw was Gibbs. His eyes were wide in fright and his mouth was opening and closing, but nothing was coming out. Izzy lowered her sword.

"Oh, Gibbs," she said. "I'm so sorry! I never heard you come up behind me!"

Gibbs was slowly composing himself after his moment of panic.

"Shiver me timbers, lassie!" he said. "Ya scared the livin' daylights out of me. By the look on yer face, I though ya were gonna gore me."

"Sorry!"

"Don't trouble yerself lass, although I did call yer name three times. I just wanted to tell ya we'll be arrivin' soon."

Izzy frowned.

Had they reached the ship Tommy was on?

"Arriving where?" she asked.

"Port Ravenna," he said. "The Pearl and the Immortal need to re-supply."

"Oh," Izzy said clearly disappointed.

"Don't ya worry yerself lass," Gibbs said. "We'll find them soon."

Izzy nodded and returned to practicing.

"Land ho!"

Jack sighed to himself. He had so much to think about. They had to find Tommy, but if they changed course Barbosa would find the treasure first.

"Bloody pirates!" Jack slammed his fist against his desk in frustration. He wanted so much to get his hands on treasure again. It had been such a long time. Jack picked up a map and saw that they were only two days from the island. They were so close…

But he knew they had to change course. If Izzy found out that they were still headed toward the island with the treasure she would murder him.

She'd be able to, too, Jack thought. He'd taught her how. He laughed.

He shut his eyes and smiled at the memories he had of teaching Izzy and watching her learn. She was so talented. A natural born pirate. She was so much like him, but so different at the same time. He knew that he shouldn't be falling for her. She was of noble blood. A governor's daughter even.

Jack rolled up the map and threw it across the room.

"Where's the bloody rum?"

Izzy saw Port Ravenna and was excited and sad both at the same time. She couldn't wait to get her own sword and give Elizabeth's back, but more than anything she wanted to find Tommy and destroy the pirates that had taken him from her. Izzy sighed. She had broken her promise to him.

She hopped nimbly off the Black Pearl and started walking down a well trodden path towards the main part of town. Izzy put her hand in her pocket to make sure her money was there. It wasn't. She turned and started to walk back to the Pearl.

"Be lookin' for this, Miss?"

Izzy turned and saw Barbosa standing in the trees just off the path. He was holding her money purse.

"How?" she asked simply.

Barbosa laughed. "Old Jack here is sneaky, ya see," he said motioning to the monkey that sat on his shoulder. "He's mighty fast too."

"I see." Izzy held out her hand and Barbosa dropped the small, cloth bag into her hand.

"But this Jack ain't the only one that's sneaky," Barbosa said slyly.

"What are you talking about?" Izzy asked confused.

"Haven't you noticed, Miss Peregrine, that the sun has seemed to stay in the same direction since our little bout with those "new" pirates?" he asked.

"D'you mean to suggest that we haven't changed direction?" Izzy demanded dropping her money bag in shock. "I thought we were looking for Tommy?"

"Watch the sun. Yer cap'ain's just as sneaky as old Jack, here."

Barbosa winked and sauntered away leaving a bewildered Miss Peregrine behind.

"Didn't you ever learn not to leave your money in the dirt? It's all too easy for someone to steal and run off with, unless that's what you wanted and then it would be all well and good to drop your money in the dirt for someone to steal and run off with. But then we wouldn't be having this conversation because if you dropped your money in the dirt and someone stole it you'd be chasing the someone who stole it so you could beat the livin' daylights out of them."

Izzy instantly jumped out of her daze and snatched he money bag out of Jack's hands.

"I dropped it," she stuttered.

"Obviously love, but no need to thank me. We all drop our money when our lover is about. C'mon, let's go find you a sword so you have a weapon to destroy the person who stole your money with." And without waiting to see if she was following, the captain traipsed away leaving Izzy behind, who was still trying to follow the logic, or rather lack of, that adorned his previous statements.